Taylor Eigsti performs at Jazzschool fundraiser By Jim Harrington Susan Muscarella, the executive director of Berkeleyâ€™s beloved Jazzschool, has a nice sense of humor. My favorite line of hers, one that I often steal and credit as my own, is… Continue Reading →

Susan Muscarella, the executive director of Berkeleyâ€™s beloved Jazzschool, has a nice sense of humor.

My favorite line of hers, one that I often steal and credit as my own, is that perhaps Jazzschool should have been originally named â€œthe Boston School of Music in Berkeley,â€ in an obvious wink to the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston.

To me, thatâ€™s hysterical â€“ which probably tells you all you need to know about my sense of humor. In retrospect, however, Muscarella definitely picked the right name when she founded Jazzschool back in 1997: Itâ€™s succinct, catchy and to the point. It serves as an apt description for a place that teaches jazz through lecture classes, workshops and one-on-one instruction.
If Muscarella ever wants to change the name, though, she can now legitimately toss the word â€œcollegeâ€ into the mix.

Thatâ€™s right: Jazzschool is now a college. The school is ready to begin offering four-year degrees, to be awarded as bachelors of music in jazz studies. The first class, which will number no more than 19 students, will begin instruction in fall â€™09.

â€œItâ€™s always been something that Iâ€™ve wanted to do,â€ says Muscarella, who was born in Oakland, raised in Walnut Creek and now lives in Berkeley. â€œI feel like itâ€™s a groundbreaking project.â€

What differentiates Jazzschoolâ€™s offering from whatâ€™s found at other local colleges that teach music, Muscarella says, is the intense focus on jazz.

â€œ(The program) is for those students who want to go on to become players,â€ she explains. â€œAll of the exercises that students are exposed to are based on jazz literature.â€

If youâ€™re interested in learning more about the new collegiate component of Jazzschool, Muscarella encourages you to drop her a line at jazzschoolinstitute@jazzschool.com.

I was really happy to hear about Jazzschoolâ€™s entry into the college ranks. It seems like an appropriate move for an organization that has already meant so much to the local music community.

If you share my high opinion of the school _ or just simply want to hear some outstanding live music _ please think about attending the big Jazzschool Benefit on Monday at Yoshiâ€™s at Jack London Square in Oakland.

The lineup for the show is solid from start to finish, featuring superb vocalist Madeline Eastman, multi-talented trombonist-composer Wayne Wallace and his Rhythm â€˜nâ€™ Rhyme band, Brazilian jazz troupe Marcos Silva and Intersection, and Grammy-nominated pianist Taylor Eigsti. The Jazzschool Studio Band, comprised of students, will open the show.

The ticket price is a bit hefty at $125, but it goes to a very worthy cause and _ get this _ $100 of it is tax deductible. Show time is 7:30 p.m. (one set only). Call 510-845-5373 or visit www.jazzschool.com.

The multi-talented Bay Area musician Wayne Wallace, an accomplished trombonist, arranger, producer and band leader, is set to celebrate the release of his new CD â€œInfinityâ€ with two local shows. Helping out in the cause will be Wallaceâ€™s band mates;… Continue Reading →

San Jose knows how to throw a party _ a really big party. For proof, just make your way to the capital of Silicon Valley this weekend (Aug. 8-10).

The enormous 19th annual Comcast San Jose Jazz Festival, which runs Friday through Sunday, will feature more than 100 bands, over 1,000 musicians and is expected to draw approximately 100,000 fans. The festivalâ€™s 10 indoor and outdoor stages are all located in the cityâ€™s downtown area and will collectively turn San Jose into the center of the jazz universe for one weekend.

Big-name headliners include the Manhattan Transfer, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, David Sanborn, Dr. Lonnie Smith and Christian Scott (one of my favorite young trumpeters).
All of that sounds terrific, but what Iâ€™m really interested in is the festivalâ€™s heavy Latin jazz component. On Saturday and Sunday, in particular, the event will feature some truly great Latin jazz performers, including John Santos, Claudia Villela, Anthony Blea y Charanga, Wayne Wallace, Bobby Matos and Chembo Corniel and Chaworo.

Furthermore, the festival will possess a strong Cuban jazz element, thanks in part to the Jazz Festival Board Chairman and musician, Arturo Riera, the man who was officially dubbed “Mr. Latin Jazz” by the California State Assembly in 2007.

“The Bay Area is the No. 1 world music market and the No. 1 market for Cuban music in the U.S., so this year’s line-up is very exciting,” says Riera.

The roster of Cuban talent includes Yosvany Terry, a Grammy-nominated saxophonist who will perform Friday at 4 p.m.

The best news, however, is that tickets prices are extremely reasonable. Admission is $10 per day or $25 for a three-day pass. Children ages 12 and under attend the festival for free. For more information, such as a complete schedule of events, visit www.sanjosejazz.org.